Waterbury evening Democrat., 1887-12-22
CHAPTER XXVI.
HoMEwApD 1oUND.

line was ever formed more promptly. We all believed that we were already in the United States, but had no objection to be still more SO; and it was with Q good many questionings that we marched out of the guarded room door, across the courtyard, and as many of us as could enter at once into the office. The proper officers were prepared with blank forms, and they filled out rapidly the oaths of parole binding the signers not to serve against the Confectionery until regularly declared exchanged. Even when I saw this good work progressing I feared that the opportunity was only for others. To test the matter I pressed forward and gave my name, fully expecting to hear, ''The engine thieves can't go;" but, to my surprise, no objection was made. For moment a delicious hope thrilled through my veins-a vision of happiness and home, dazzling as 8 summer flash of lightning, shone forth before my eyes.
 Wewere told to be ready to start north at 4o'clock the next morning We could have been ready in four seconds! But we were unutterably glad to have it brought even that near. At times a deadly misgiving arose for a moment that all this might prove delusion; but the actual signing of the parole was Q strong anchor to our hope.
 As might be expected, that evening was one of wild excitement. Nearly every body in our room acted like men bereft of reason. Some danced and bounded over the floor, embracing each other and pledging kind remembrances. Others shouted till they were too hoarse to shout any more. Others sat down and wept. The deliverance was so great that they were completely overpowered. But a few were, for some reason, not permitted to go, and we deeply pitied them.
 It was near midnight before we became calm enough to offer up our usual even ing devotions. But when the roomful of excited men were still at last, wearied out by the very excess of joy, and overcome by the quietness which ever follows pow erful emotion, we knelt in prayer. Many more than the usual number assembled with us in the corner of the room where we always gathered. The prayer was one of overmastering thankfulness. When we remembered all the sufferings through which we had passed it seemed as if we could never cease to be grateful. We asked God for strength to bear every trial; but we also implored with a fervor and sincerity which few can realize, that he would not allow our bright and vivid hopes to be disappointed and us to be dashed back from the paradise of liberty. And we asked with no little solicitude for strength to continue in his service when no longer confined within prison walls, so that the precious possession we had found in the darkness might not pass away in the light; thus composed we lay down to await the event.
 The commanding officer, who stepped into the door long before the morning light gave the thrilling order, "Get up and prepare for your journey'
 At his call we hurriedly thronged to our feet. All doubts and fears vanished. It was true Freedom once more! Our terrible activity was passed. O joy! Joy! Joy inexpressiblel almost too wild and delirious for earth!
 The eight men who got away from the immediate vicinity of the prison travelled in couples, taking different routes and meeting with Q great variety of stirring adventures. Porter and Wollam went westward and reached the Tennessee river, down which they floated in a boat, making land circuit to avoid mussel shoals, till they reached Corinth, in Mis- sissippi, on the 18th of November, having been month and two days on their peril | ous routes 4--z--- s Dorsey and Hawkins pursued route similar in general direction to the last, but keeping little further west. They were entangled in the outposts of Bragg's army, then on it's retreat from Kentucky, and very narrowly escaped capture They also were greatly helped by the Union people of East Tennessee, and without such aid would very probably have died with cold and hunger in the mountains. They and all the others were received by theil army comrades and relatives as men riser 1 from the dead.
 sos- easiest route was that taken by Wood an( Wilson. The former was so sick that it i. not probable he could in any other way have been saved at all. They struck south west till they encountered the Chatta hoochec river, when, seizing Q boat, the! padded down the stream night after night hiding by day, till they reached the Gull of Mexico, when they stood boldly out tt sea in their frail craft and were fortunat' enough to find our blockading feet O. their emotions On once more beholding th' old flag it is useless to speak; all who wer prisoners during the war will understand it, and no others can They reached Ke. | West Nov. 12, and were the first of tn party to send home full account of thei l adventures, which is still on file in tn | war department.
 l A few words will finish the story of tn six of us who were so unfortunate as tt be recaptured. We expected nothing les than instant death; but instead of tha we were taken to the Atlanta barracks then under charge of an officer who hat been in the regular United States army from whom we received more human
 treatment than had been before accorde, us within the limits of the Confederacy Here we remained two months, and wer
 then forwarded to Richmond, Va. w
 spent only about two hours in Libb,
 prison, but were more than three month
 in Castle Thunder, where our suffering
 were often very great. Food was bu
 little above the starvation point. N
 clothes were given us by the Confederacy
 and we were almost naked. Many die,
 around us, and in the very rooms wit
 us, of smallpox and other deadly diseases
 but our lives were strangely preserved
 though several of our number were yer
 sick. We never were called on to fac
 TO BE CONTINUED